This study used a mixed methods approach to examine student access and achievement differences based on the students' 7th-grade mathematics class placement. Additionally, this study investigated the difference between teachers' perceptions and pedagogical decisions based on their students' placement levels. Finally, this study asked for teacher…

We report findings from an investigation of one teacher's instruction as he guided students through the proofs of 21 theorems in a Grade 8 Honors Geometry course. We describe a routine involving four distinct phases, including Setting up the Proof and Concluding the Proof. Results from an end-of-course proof test are also presented to attest to…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of phenomena-based inquiry on students' engagement levels in my science classroom. This action research study took place in the fall of 2021 with six student participants. Participants were enrolled in an 8th grade honors science course in a middle school in South Carolina. The research was…

School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in substantial learning gaps in students' mathematical abilities. The problem was self-enrollment against teacher recommendation among Honors Algebra 2 students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students at a local high school. The purpose of the quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to…

The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to understand how 9th grade honors and general education language arts students made course enrollment decisions through the lens of the Expectancy-Value (E-V) theory. A survey was administered to 9th grade students (N = 118) attending a public high school with the overall mean score…

An experienced principal transfers schools to rebuild trust in the school culture and community after a recent scandal and declining student achievement scores. A district level supervisor opens a way for Mr. Davie, the incoming principal, to offer middle students advanced classes. The principal believes this is an initiative that will boost…

This quasi-experimental, quantitative study was completed to determine if a Modern Classroom approach to teaching had a significant relationship with student self-reported efficacy measures and end-of-course test data when compared to classrooms taught with traditional instructional methods as well as if there was a difference in results for…

This study examined how high-stakes assessments and benchmark assessments impact the self-efficacy of 6th-grade students. The study took place during the 2018-2019 school year and surveyed students three times during the year. The first time was in September to obtain baseline data, a second time in October after students took the NWEA, and then a…

The following mixed methods research describes the impact of nineteen students who were given the opportunity to take honors mathematics courses during high school after previously being tracked into grade level courses in middle school. Quantitative results showed significant increases in students' standardized state test scores when moved to the…

The Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) has synthesized key data on English learners (ELs) into two-page sheets on a variety of subjects. The topics for this report on English learners and science achievement include: (1) National Assessment of Education Progress Science Score Comparison for English Learners and Students Who Are Not…

Scholars have encouraged universities to more effectively engage with surrounding communities. One example of community engagement is the service-learning partnership between the Plan II Honors Program and the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) public charter school in Austin, through which college students enroll in a class to mentor local middle…

Self-perception of academic competence is a strong predictor of students' achievement striving. We examined adolescents' beliefs about their math teachers' perceptions of students (reflected classroom appraisals) and math track placement as subtle sources of information that might influence students' math self-concept. Sixth graders (n = 322; 72%…

Previous studies on advanced middle and high school mathematics course enrollment have focused on the correlation of successful course completion and post-secondary outcomes for students. This instrumental case study examined how school related factors such as personnel and policy influenced equitable enrollment in middle and high school honors…

While virtual reality (VR) technology can provide students with first-hand and situational learning experiences, limited studies have integrated VR in a K-12 classroom, resulting in the lack of understanding of the benefits and challenges of VR use in classroom settings. To examine the impact of VR on student learning, this study employed a…

This study assesses the excellence gap by examining those who enroll in advanced, honors, and advanced placement (AP) classes among a low-income and a majority-Latinx population. Prospective longitudinal data come from a diverse, urban sample (N = 32,885) where 82.2% of the students received free or reduced price lunch. We examined numerous…